Vacuum cleaner



June 23, 1942.

E. o. H. HANSSON 2,287,474

VACUUM CLEANER I Filed. Dec. 8, 1939 INVENTOR Patented June 23, 1942 VACUUM CLEANER Erik skar Helge Hansson, Stockholm, Sweden, as'signor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,145

In Sweden December 8,1938

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner of the horizontal type the casing of which encloses a motor-fan unit and a dust collector. In operation, such a vacuum cleaner rests in a horizontal position on for instance wheels or runners. Under certain conditions it is, however, desirable to place it in a vertical position,

for example, when emptying thedust collector or storing the cleaner in a closet. When placed in this manner, vacuum cleaners of hitherto known constructions are often very unstable, especially if the support is soft or uneven. This drawback is eliminated by the present invention which, in the main, is characterized by elongated ribs or like supporting members extending from the rear end of the cleaner casing in a substantially axial direction, suitably grouped in a symmetrical manner round the axial centre line of the casing and running along the rear surface of the casing. In a suitable embodiment of the invention-the supporting ribs are formed integral with the rear hood of the cleanercasing or if desired with a part which is removably connected with said hood, and which has formed therein the air outflow orifice of the cleaner.

The accompanying drawing illustrates anemdescription of this embodiment other characteristics of the invention will be set forth.

Fig. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner provided with supporting members according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the underside of the cleaner, the latter being placed in a vertical position on the supporting members according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is a view of the rear end of the cleaner shown in Figs. 1 'and 2, but on a larger scale.

In the drawing the casing of the vacuum cleaner is designed by ID. To its forward and rear ends hoods or the like II and I2, respectively, are attached. On the-underside of the casing there are arranged runners l3 on which the cleaner rests when in operation. In the embodiment shown therear hood H of the casing is provided with a member l4 stened thereto in-any suitable manner and formed with an air outflow orifice I5. This member l4 may be a casting of aluminum or the like, while the hood l2 may consist of Bakelite or some similar material. According to the invention the rear end of the cleaner is formed with special supporting members which extend from said end in a substantially axial direction and are suitably grouped in a symmetrical manner round the axial centre line of the casing. In the present case the supporting members consist of two elongated ribs l6 cast integral with the member l4, one on each side of the air outflow orifice l5. To secure the largest possible supporting surface the ribs I6 are bodiment of the invention, and in the following placed as far outward on the sides of the cover M as possible. If desired, the ribs may also be placed on the end surface of the hood l2 at the sides of member M in order to give a still larger supporting surface to the implement in the vertical position. As appears from Fig. 3 of the drawing, the ribs are somewhat bow-shaped, thus closely following the contour of the casing. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the outer edge of each supporting rib I6 is slightlydished inwardly, as indicated at I! whereby each rib thus possesses two fulcrums l8 for supporting the cleaner when in the vertical position, namely one at each end of the rib. Such a shape of the supporting ribs obviously still further improves the stability of the cleaner, when it is placed on a soft or uneven surface. If desired, more than two supporting combs may be provided.

While I have shown one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my inven-- tionis not to be limited thereto, but is to be determined by the appended claim.

Having-thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing provided with a dust bag opening at one end, means for supporting said casing on a horizontal surface .with said opening in a substantially vertical plane, a casting secured to the opposite end of said casing and formed with an outlet opening and a plurality of symmetrically located ridgelike members cast integral with said casting and projecting therefrom on either side of saidoutlet opening for providing a stable support on the horizontal surface for said casing in an upright position with said dust bag opening in a horizontal plane and for spacing said outlet opening from the supporting surface, whereby air discharged through said outlet opening may escape between said members.

ERIK OSKAR HELGE HANSSON. 

